Dive Brief:
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Federal guidelines designed to protect construction workers from a cancer linked to exposure to asbestos, a fire-resistant insulating material, might not be adequate to prevent them from becoming ill, a Swedish study revealed.
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Researchers at Umea University’s Department of Health and Clinical Medicine found that construction workers may be at risk for pleural mesothelioma even if their jobs are not specifically related to the handling of asbestos.
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The academics questioned whether it’s possible for crew members exposed to asbestos to avoid coming down with the cancer, even if they wear respirators and take precautions like the ones mandated by the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration.
Dive Insight:
The study’s most haunting finding is the high incidence of mesothelioma among construction crews working in the vicinity of insulation that contained asbestos—even if they were not handling it. This included concrete and wood workers, painters, electricians, and foremen.
As expected, plumbers and other trades who worked directly with asbestos were more likely than others to suffer from the cancer.